| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| In | Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico |
| Founded by | Arturo Guzmán Decena |
| Years active | 1999−present |
| Territory | Mexico: Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Chiapas, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, State of México, Michoacán United States: Texas, California, New Jersey, Detroit, Colorado, Illinois Central America: Guatemala |
| Ethnicity | Predominantly Mexican, with some Guatemalan members |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, people smuggling, kidnapping, racketeering, murder, arms trafficking, terrorism, robbery, assault, rape, bribery, prostitution, counterfeiting, fencing, burglary[1] |
| Allies | Beltrán-Leyva Cartel, Juárez Cartel, Tijuana Cartel[2][3][4][5] |
| Rivals | Gulf Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, La Familia Cartel |
Los Zetas (Zetas, Z's or La Última Letra)[6] is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico[7][8] and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico.[9] It is based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, directly across the border from Laredo, Texas.[10] It also has significant presence in over 23 states around Mexico, with a major area of operation in the city of Monterrey;[11] it also has important areas of operation in the country of Guatemala.[12] Los Zetas are visible throughout the Gulf Coast region, in the southern states of Tabasco, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas, and in the Pacific Coast states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán, as well as in Mexico City.[13] They are also active in several states in the United States.[14]
Besides drug trafficking, Los Zetas operate through protection rackets, assassinations, extortions, kidnappings, and other criminal activities.[15] This drug cartel, now led by Heriberto Lazcano, was founded by a group of over 30 deserters of the Mexican Army’s elite Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFE),[16] and includes corrupt former federal, state, and local police officers,[17] as well as ex-Kaibiles, the Special Forces of the Guatemalan military.[18] Los Zetas started as the military wing of the Gulf Cartel and as the private mercenary army of Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, their leader. However, after his arrest and extradition, the two entities became a combined trafficking force, with the Zetas taking a more active leadership role in drug trafficking.[19][20] In 2010, however, Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel separated.[21][22] Their rupture of Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel has led to a bloody turf war, predominantly in the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas.[23][24]
Los Zetas have also carried out multiple massacres and terrorist attacks on civilians, such as the 2011 Monterrey casino attack, where 52 people were killed,[25] the 2010 Tamaulipas massacre, where 72 migrants were found dead,[26] the 2011 Tamaulipas massacre, where 193 people were killed,[27] the massacre of 27 farmers in Guatemala,[28] and the 2008 Morelia grenade attacks, where 8 were killed and over 100 were injured.[29] In addition, sources reveal that Los Zetas may also be responsible for the death of 249 people at the 2011 Durango massacres[30] and for the 2010 Puebla oil pipeline explosion, which killed 28 people, injured 52, and damaged over 115 homes.[31]
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The group's name Los Zetas is given after its first leader, Lieutenant Arturo Guzmán Decena, whose Federal Judicial Police radio code was "Z1",[32] a code given to high-ranking officers.[20][21][22] The radio code for Commanding Federal Judicial Police Officers in México was "Y" and are nicknamed Yankees, for Federal Judicial Police in charge of a city the radio code was "Z," and thus they were nicknamed as the letter in Spanish, "Zetas."
In 1997 the Gulf Cartel began to recruit military personal whom Jesús Gutiérrez Rebollo, an Army General of that time, had assigned as representatives from the PGR offices in certain states across Mexico. After his imprisonment a short time later, Jorge Madrazo Cuéllar created the National Public Security System (SNSP), to fight the drug cartels along the U.S-Mexico border. After Osiel Cárdenas took full control of the Gulf Cartel in 1999, he found himself in a no-holds-barred fight to keep his notorious organization and leadership untouched, and sought out members of the Mexican Army Special Forces to become the military armed-wing of the Gulf Cartel.[33] His goal was to protect himself from rival drug cartels and from the Mexican military, in order to perform vital functions as the leader of the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico.[34] Among his first contacts was Arturo Guzmán Decena, an Army lieutenant who was reportedly asked by Osiel Cárdenas to look for the "best men possible."[35] Consequently, Guzmán Decenas deserted from the Armed Forces and brought more than 30 army deserters to form part of Cárdenas’ new criminal paramilitary wing.[36] They were enticed with salaries much higher than those of the Mexican Army.[37] Among the original defectors were Jaime González Durán,[38] Jesús Enrique Rejón Aguilar,[39] Miguel Treviño Morales,[40] and Heriberto Lazcano,[41] now the supreme leader of Los Zetas.
One of the first missions of Los Zetas was to eradicate Los Chachos, a group of drug traffickers under the orders of the Milenio Cartel, who disputed the drug corridors of Tamaulipas with the Gulf Cartel in 2003.[42] This gang was controlled by Dionisio Román García Sánchez alias El Chacho, who had decided to betray the Gulf Cartel and switch his alliance with the Tijuana Cartel; however, he was eventually killed by Los Zetas.[43] Once Osiel Cárdenas Guillen consolidated his position and supremacy, he expanded the responsibilities of Los Zetas, and as years passed, they became much more important for the Gulf Cartel. They began to organize kidnappings;[44] impose taxes, collect debts, and operate protection rackets;[45] control the extortion business;[46] securing cocaine supply and trafficking routes known as plazas (zones) and executing its foes, often with grotesque savagery.[20][13]
Guzmán Decena (Z1) was killed by a rival cartel member on November 2002 in a restaurant in Matamoros, Tamaulipas,[47] allowing Heriberto Lazcano (Z3) to ascended in the apex of the paramilitary group.[48] In response to the rising power of the Gulf Cartel, the rival Sinaloa Cartel[49] established a heavily armed, well-trained enforcer group known as Los Negros.[50] The group operated similar to Los Zetas, but with less complexity and success. Upon the arrest of the Gulf Cartel boss Osiel Cárdenas Guillen in 2003 and his extradition in 2007, the panorama for Los Zetas changed—they began to become synonymous with the Gulf Cartel, and their influences grew greater within the organization.[51] Los Zetas began to grow independently from the Gulf Cartel, and eventually a rupture occurred between them.[52][53]
There is huge discrepancy on who of the two—the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas—started the conflict that led to their rupture. It is clear, however, that after the capture and extradition of Osiel Cárdenas, Los Zetas had become so powerful that they outnumbered and outclassed the Gulf Cartel in revenue, membership, and influence.[54] Some sources reveal that as a result of the supremacy of Los Zetas, the Gulf Cartel felt threatened by the growing force of their own enforcer group that they decided to stop their influence, but eventually failed in their attempt, instigating a war.[55] In addition, from the perspective presented by the Gulf Cartel, the narco-banners placed by them in the cities of Matamoros, Tamaulipas and Reynosa, Tamaulipas explained that the reason for their rupture was because Los Zetas had expanded their supremacy not only by trafficking drugs, but also through extreme violence, extortions, kidnappings, homicides and theft. These were actions that the Gulf Cartel disagreed with.[56] Unwilling to stand for such abuse, Los Zetas responded and countered the accusations by posting their own banners throughout Tamaulipas. They pointedly noted that they had carried out executions and kidnappings under orders of the Gulf Cartel when they served as their enforcers, and they were originally created by them for that sole purpose.[57] In addition, Los Zetas mentioned that the Gulf Cartel also kills innocent civilians, and then blames them for their atrocities.[57]
Nevertheless, other sources also reveal that Tony Tormenta, brother of Osiel Cárdenas and one of the successors of the Gulf Cartel, had an addiction to gambling, sex, and drugs, which led Los Zetas to consider his leadership as a threat to the organization.[58] Other reports mention, however, that the rupture occurred due to a disagreement on who would take on the leadership of the cartel after the extradition of Cárdenas. The candidates of the Gulf Cartel were Antonio Ezekiel Cárdenas Guillén and Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez, while Los Zetas wanted the leadership of their current head, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano.[59] Other sources, however, mention that the Gulf Cartel began looking to form a truce with their Sinaloa Cartel rivals, and Los Zetas did not want to recognize the treaty settlement, which led them to act independently and eventually break apart.[60] On the other hand, other sources reveal that Los Zetas separated from the Gulf Cartel to form an alliance with Beltrán-Leyva Cartel, which led to conflict between them.[61] Other sources mention that what initiated the conflict between them was when Samuel Flores Borrego, alias El Metro 3, lieutenant of the Gulf Cartel, killed Sergio Peña Mendoza, alias El Concorde 3, lieutenant of Los Zetas, due to a disagreement for the drug corridor of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, whom both protected.[62] Soon after his death, Los Zetas demanded for the Gulf Cartel to hand over the killer, but they didn't, and observers believe that triggered the war.[63]
Tamaulipas was mostly spared from the violence until early 2010, when the Gulf Cartel’s enforcers, Los Zetas, split from and turned against the Gulf Cartel, sparking a bloody turf war. When the hostilities began, the Gulf organization joined forces with its former rivals, the Sinaloa Cartel and La Familia Michoacana, aiming to take out Los Zetas.[64][65] Consequently, Los Zetas allied with the Juárez Cartel, the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel, and the Tijuana Cartel.[66][67]
As of 2012, Los Zetas has control over 23 states in Mexico, making it the drug cartel with the most amount of territory in the country. Their rivals, the Sinaloa Cartel, have lost some territories to Los Zetas, and went down from 23 states in dominion to only 16.[68]
Since February 2010, the major cartels have aligned in two factions, one integrated by the Juárez Cartel, Tijuana Cartel, Los Zetas and the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel; the other faction integrated by the Gulf Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel and La Familia Cartel.[69]
Los Zetas have set up camps to train recruits as well as corrupt ex-federal, state, and local police officers.[70] In September 2005 testimony to the Mexican Congress, then-Defense Secretary Clemente Vega indicated that the Zetas had also hired at least 30 former Kaibiles from Guatemala to train new recruits because the number of former Mexican special forces men in their ranks had shrunk.[70] Los Zetas' training locations have been identified as containing the same items and setup as GAFE training facilities.
Los Zetas are primarily based in the border region of Nuevo Laredo, with hundreds more throughout the country. In Nuevo Laredo it is believed they have carved the city into territories, placing lookouts at arrival destinations such as airports, bus stations and main roads.[21] In addition to conducting activities along the border, they operate throughout the Gulf of Mexico, in the Southern states of Tabasco, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas, and in the Pacific Coast states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán, as well as in Mexico City.[71] Evidence also indicates that they may be active in Texas, other U.S. states[72] and in Italy with the 'Ndrangheta.[73]
Some of the original members are:[74] Arturo Guzmán Decena (Z-1), Jesús Enrique Rejón Aguilar (Z-7 or El Mamito),[75] Heriberto Lazcano (Z-3), Carlos Vera Calva (El Vera), Galdindo Mellado Cruz (Z-9), Flavio Méndez Santiago (El Amarillo or Z-10), Jaime González Durán (El Hummer), Rogelio González Pizaña (El Kelín or Z-2),[76] Efraín Teodoro Torres (El Efra,La Chispa or Z-14),[77] Raúl Hernandez Barrón (El Flander), Víctor Nazario Castrejón Peña, Gustavo González Castro (El Erótico), Óscar Guerrero Silva (El Winnie Pooh), Alberto Trejo Benavides (El Alvin), Luís Alberto Guerrero Reyes (El Guerrero), Mateo Díaz López (Comandante Mateo), Daniel Peréz Rojas (El Cachetes), Luis Reyes Enríquez (El Rex), Nabor Vargas García (El Débora), Isidro Lara Flores (El Colchón), Alfonso Lechuga Licona (El Cañas), Ernesto Zatarín Beliz (El Traca), Prisciliano Ibarra Yepis, Rogelio Guerra Ramírez (El Guerra), Miguel Ángel Soto Parra (El Parra), Galdino Mellado Cruz (El Mellado), Gonzalo Geresano Escribano (El Cuije), Daniel Enrique Márquez Aguilar (El Chocotorro), Iván Velázquez Caballero (El Taliban, Z-50), Lucio Hernández Lechuga (El Lucky, Z-16), Enrique Ruiz Tlapanco (El Tlapa), Braulio Arellano Domínguez (El Gonzo), Jorge López (El Chuta), José Ramón Dávila (El Cholo), Eduardo Estrada González, Omar Lormendez Pitalúa (El Pita), Eduardo Salvador López Lara (El Chavita) and Germán Torres Jiménez (El Tatanka).
Over time, many of the original 31 have been killed or arrested, and a number of younger men have filled the vacuum, forming something that resembles what Los Zetas used to be, but still far from the efficiency of the original Zetas.[78]
Following a joint investigation, titled Operation Black Jack, by the ATF, DEA, ICE and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the FBI, two Zeta safe houses were identified and raided, recovering more than 40 kidnapped individuals.[21]
On October 26, 2008, the Washington Times reported of an FBI warning that Los Zetas' cell in Texas were to engage law enforcement with a full tactical response should law enforcement attempt to intervene in their operations;[79] their cell leader was identified as Jaime González Durán (The Hummer), who was later arrested on November 7, 2008, in the border city Reynosa, Tamaulipas.[80] In this operation, three safehouses in Reynosa were raided by elements of the Mexican Federal Police and Mexican Army, yielding the largest weapon seizure in the history of Mexico; it included 540 rifles including 288 assault rifles and several .50-caliber rifles, 287 hand grenades, 2 M72 LAW anti-tank weapons, 500,000 rounds of ammunition, 67 ballistic vests and 14 sticks of dynamite.[81][82]
In February 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced a program called "Operation Border Star Contingency Plan" to safeguard the border if Zetas carry out their threats to attack U.S. safety officers. This project includes the use of tanks, airplanes and the National Guard "as a preventive measure upon the possible collapse of the Mexican State" to protect the border from the attack of the Zetas and receive an eventual exodus of Mexicans fleeing from the violence.[83]
On October 6, 2011 a man identified himself as a member of Anonymous posted a video on YouTube under the account MrAnonymousguyfawkes stating that Los Zetas had kidnapped one of their group members and demanded Los Zetas Cartel release the individual. If he was not freed, the video threatened to expose photos and the names of people who collaborate with the cartels, such as police officers and taxi drivers.[85][86][87] The video stated that they were “fed up” with the situation in Mexico where people are getting kidnapping and experiencing violence.[88]
The operation to expose information of people who work with Los Zetas, dubbed OpCartel, was started as a result of an Anonymous member being kidnapped during Operation Paperstorm in Veracruz.[89] The state of Veracruz has recently seen an increase in violence. Mexican President Felipe Calderon stated that Veracruz had been “left in the hands of the Zetas”.[90]
On October 29, 2011 the Global Intelligence group Stratfor released a report stating that if Anonymous did go through with OpCartel, “most certainly” it would lead to more deaths and could leave bloggers and others open to reprisal attacks by the cartels.[91] This threat of violence was also stated by Mike Vigil, the retired head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, who mentioned that "Los Zetas should take Anonymous seriously" and “it is a gutsy move” to publish the names of these people.[92]
OpCartel also raised the concern that Los Zetas have experts in computer intelligence who are believed to track down the "anti-cartel" campaigns online,[93] which has made experts understand the high rate of journalist executions.[94] Additionally, the Mexican drug cartels generally have people monitor forums, news websites, and blogs to help them be in touch with what is being published and with what could affect their interests.[95] The New York Times mentioned that Los Zetas has access to sophisticated tracking software due to the fact that they have infiltrated Mexican law enforcement agencies, and that online anonymity might not be enough protection for Internet users.[96]
Many news articles also mentioned the violent nature of the drug cartel. One bloggers stated "I wouldn't be surprised in the next few weeks to see someone in a Guy Fawkes mask hanging off a bridge with a message painted on a bed sheet next to him. That would match the typical Zetas response in this case.”[97] Earlier this year two people were found hung off of a bridge in Nuevo Leon for what many believe was due to “online snitching”. Using online tools has become popular in Mexico as a way for citizens to let each other know about shootings or other violent attacks that have just occurred.[98]
There has been confusion on whether OpCartel was backed by Anonymous as a whole or not, and if the operation was fake. For example, a Global Voices article cites the following statement from Anonymous Mexico's Facebook Page:
| “ | Dear Followers of this page. Through this medium Anonymous Mexico denies all responsibility about the news of the hacking of one page allegedly related to a cartel. [...] Our fight is not of this kind and our ideals are not in tune with that operation. The note published in many electronic media is completely false. We ask for your support in distributing this communique.[84] | ” |
This statement is similar to one published in a Milenio article on October 30, 2011. The author interviewed two Anonymous Mexico members who stated that the operation was fake. In the interview, the individuals reiterate what their official communications channels are, example Twitter and Facebook page, but state that they do not have an official YouTube page.[99]
However, the Anonymous Mexico Facebook page,[100] contains a posts on October 31, 2011 that states citizens can submit their denouncements safely on the Anonymous Iberoamerican Blog. The Anonymous Iberoamerican blog also has a posts urging only people who feel comfortable will their skills to partake in this operation, and lists security precautions Anonymous members should take such as not working Guy Fawkes masks in public.[101]
On November 4, 2011, Anonymous also posted on the Iberoamerican Blog that the kidnapped member has been released and that they had confirmed his identity. They also stated that the would not be moving forward with releasing the photos and names of people they had.[102]
Anonymous claims that during a recent chat on their official blog, the Mexican intelligence agency known as CISEN used the username "Ibero_943" to persuade them to extract information from the Mexican drug cartels.[103] From the beginning, the ping velocity and the hostmask appeared suspicious, and the Anonymous group decided to investigate the IP address of the user; after concluding their track down, the username allegedly came from CISEN's official webpage.[104] However, on November 9th via Twitter, the whole Anonymous organization claimed that they had nothing to do with Barrett Brown's threats to Los Zetas, but Barret Brown claimed through a video on Youtube[105] that he will still continue the attack against Los Zetas on his own.[106] A person with knowledge of the operations, who decided not to be named for the fear of reprisals, claimed that "a list of 100 or so of the major contacts of the Zetas" have been brought to light by Anonymous.[107]
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